Top 10 Moments from WWE’s Raw

Cody Rhodes responds to The Rock, Becky Lynch takes one step closer to Rhea Ripley, the tag title match takes shape, and more happened on the March 18 edition of Raw

Here are the Top 10 moments last night’s Raw:

10.) The Usos meet ahead of WrestleMania

Jey Uso greeted an enthusiastic Raleigh. North Carolina crowd before beckoning his brother and WrestleMania opponent, Jimmy Uso, to come out and talk to him.

Courtesy WWE

Jimmy entered through the crowd, followed by Solo Sikoa, and stood across from Jey in the center of the ring. Rather than antagonize his rival, Jey told his brother that he misses him–and asked him to come back to his side. Jimmy cut him off, and said he never left. He recalled that when Jey went off on his own, he found success on Raw by becoming the top merch seller and becoming a tag team champion with Cody Rhodes. Jimmy felt betrayed that after all of these accomplishments, Jey credited his success to his new partner rather than his brother who stood by his side for his first nine championships.

After listening to his brother try to take credit for everything he’s achieved, Jey responded by saying his biggest moment will be at WrestleMania 40 when he will “knock the yeet out your ass”, then delivered a superkick to Jimmy. Jey then knocked down Sikoa, ready to pounce from just outside the ropes, and Jimmy used the distraction to return the superkick. As Solo and Jimmy prepared to dole out more punishment, the crowd chanted for Cody Rhodes to come out and save him. Rhodes did so by running down the ramp, delivering a right hook to Jimmy and a beautiful Cody Cutter to Sikoa before helping Jey to his feet.

9.) DIY and The Creed Brothers set the standard for qualifying matches

Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa faced Brutus and Julius Creed in a qualifying match to take part in the six-pack ladder match for the undisputed tag team championship at WrestleMania.

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The match stole the show on Raw. While the Creeds had a size and power advantage over DIY, Gargano and Ciampa caught them off guard with their agility and quick wit. The Creeds attempted to prove why they belong on the WrestleMania stage with their impressive and innovative offense, but none of it was enough to put away Gargano and Ciampa.

The Creeds were perfectly in sync for much of the match, wearing down Ciampa by not allowing Gargano to tag himself in. That all changed when a fresher Gargano finally became the legal man. After a hard fought and evenly matched battle, DIY punched their ticket to WrestleMania, their first in their nearly decade-long WWE careers. Despite the loss, the Creeds showcased abilities that will surely land them a future spot at WrestleMania.

8.) Candice LeRae’s cruelty continues to yield successful results

After a controversial win on Raw last week, Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell took on Kayden Karter and Katana Chance.

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Chance’s offense is unbelievably fast and relentless, like a little mosquito that keeps going back for more. Unfortunately, this did not stop her from getting caught by Hartwell and landing awkwardly trying to escape. As the referee attempted to assess Chance’s injury, the opportunistic LeRae tagged herself in and targeted Chance’s weak knee. She put Chance’s leg in a submission hold, and Chance immediately tapped out to avoid any further damage, giving LeRae and Hartwell a quick win.

Hartwell looked horrified at her partner’s cruelty as LeRae giddily celebrated and mocked Chance, who had to be carried out of the ring by Carter. LeRae’s new approach may have been effective, but it came at a cost.

7.) Cody Rhodes responds to The Rock, makes deal with The Bloodline

This past week on SmackDown, The Rock performed his old-school “Rock Concert” ripping apart Cody Rhodes. He also addressed Mama Rhodes through the camera, saying he would deliver her son to her battered and bleeding. Last night on Raw, Rhodes responded.

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Rhodes delivered the promo of a lifetime. He brought up that in The Rock’s recent Instagram video, he refers to himself as a heel, which is a bad guy in professional wrestling. If The Rock is a heel, he is amongst such greats as Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson, and Ric Flair. But Rhodes does not think The Rock is a heel, rather he is “an assh---”.

The Rock also made fun of Rhodes for getting emotional on Raw last week, but Rhodes pointed out that The Rock was crying and whining backstage about how the fans like Rhodes more than him. Rhodes also defended his mother’s name, saying she wasn’t moved by The Rock’s intimidation tactics. He concluded by saying that The Rock talks a big game, but questioned whether he could back it up once the bell rings.

At this point, Paul Heyman interjected.

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Heyman delivered a message to Rhodes from Roman Reigns, whom he says gives his word that when he meets Rhodes on SmackDown this week, no member of The Bloodline will be present aside from himself and his Wiseman. However, Reigns will only do so if Rhodes shows up to SmackDown alone as well–and Rhodes agreed.

Shortly after, Jey Uso approached Rhodes backstage to offer to back him up on Friday, knowing that The Bloodline cannot be trusted. Rhodes declined the offer, choosing to keep his word.

6.) Ricochet continues to humiliate The Judgment Day

After Ricochet eliminated JD McDonagh in the first round of last week’s gauntlet match, The Judgment Day were none too pleased with McDonagh’s performance.

They felt embarrassed by the defeat, and sent Dominik Mysterio, accompanied by McDonagh, to make Ricochet pay.

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Despite distractions from McDonagh, Ricochet put Mysterio away quickly, further making fools of the group.

5.) Chad Gable has no confidence in Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn ran into Chad Gable backstage to thank him for an excellent performance in their match last week, but Gable was still clearly upset about losing the match and his shot at the Intercontinental title.

Zayn noticed his standoffish behavior and demanded an explanation, and Gable admitted to his disappointment, saying the win would have meant more to him. Zayn told Gable that it's not up to him to determine how much the match means to anyone else, then reminded him that they both have families rooting for them at home.

However, Gable wasn’t just upset about his family having to see him lose. He is also disappointed because he does not believe Zayn can beat Gunther. It seems Gable would be more at peace about losing the gauntlet match if the winner was someone who he believed to be capable of dethroning the Intercontinental Champion.

4.) Intercontinental Championship contract signing

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce welcomed Sami Zayn and Intercontinental Champion Gunther to sign the contract for their title match at WrestleMania. Gunther, donning a suit and tie, insulted Zayn for dressing casually in a t-shirt and not taking the event seriously.

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Zayn retorted by saying that the Ring General does not take him seriously as a competitor, and explained that he should not count him out. Gunther disagreed. If Gable didn’t believe Zayn could beat Gunther, and the audience, despite their love for Zayn, don’t believe he can do it, then why should he? Gunther said even Zayn himself does not believe he can beat him. The Intercontinental Champion confidently signed the contract and began to exit the ring, but Zayn halted him to say that he was wrong. Zayn told Gunther that he has full confidence that he will be the one to end his record-breaking title reign at WrestleMania.

Zayn found Gable again backstage after the contract signing to ask him why he doesn’t think he can beat Gunther. Gable told him that Gunther may be physically imposing, but the challenge is also mental. Zayn has been fighting like an underdog, and it has carried him this far, but he cannot rely on waiting for a window of opportunity when he faces Gunther. He stressed that Zayn needs to believe he is an equal rather than an underdog in order to conquer the Ring General.

3.) Two more teams qualify for WrestleMania match

Awesome Truth faced Indus Sher in the second qualifying match of the night. Though Veer and Sanga had a clear size advantage, Awesome Truth secured a quick victory. It happened so fast that Truth did not even realize what had happened until the referee raised his hand.

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In the night’s final qualifying match, The New Day defeated Otis and Akira Tozawa of Alpha Academy to secure a spot at WrestleMania. Despite Alpha Academy’s loss, they had an invigorating performance that proved they can go toe-to-toe with The New Day, considered by many to be one of the greatest tag teams of all-time.

2.) Seth Rollins calls Drew McIntyre on his hypocrisy

Drew McIntyre made his entrance, but he was quickly cut off by Seth Rollins.y

Rollins mocked comments made by McIntyre last week, and admitted, in a joking manner, that McIntyre was right about him being addicted to the spotlight. McIntyre did not appreciate the jokes, saying that while Rollins thinks everything is funny, the real punchline will be when he loses his title at WrestleMania. Rollins changed his tone and told McIntyre that he wasn’t joking, he truly is a spotlight junkie, and he takes his job deathly seriously.

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Rollins explained that at the first night of WrestleMania, he will take down The Rock and Roman Reigns. That will ensure the spotlight on will shine directly on himself and McIntyre at night two. McIntyre seemed satisfied with Rollins’ reaction, his passion sans flashy outfits and jokes, but could not understand why the world heavyweight championship is focused on any other match but his title defense. Why does a tag match matter to him? McIntyre begged Rollins to prioritize the title match over his beef with The Bloodline.

Rollins pointed out that while McIntyre ascribes him the label of spotlight junkie, he’s just as desperate for the spotlight after his big moment at WrestleMania 36 came and went without a live audience to witness it. The difference between the two men, Rollins surmised, is that when the fans and the spotlight returned, he rose to the occasion–while McIntyre choked, and it will be no different at WrestleMania.

1.) Becky Lynch stands tall

The Raw main event was a last woman standing match between Becky Lynch and Nia Jax.

Jax dominated the majority of the match, and it appeared that Lynch would not be able to attain her first win against the irresistible force.

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However, at the very last moment, Lynch managed to earn the win by driving Jax through a table with a manhandle slam, and through the announcer’s table with a leg drop from the top of a ladder.

Courtesy WWE

Courtesy WWE

Lynch had no time to celebrate. Her WrestleMania opponent, Rhea Ripley, marched to the ring.

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Ripley stared down Lynch in an attempt to intimidate her, but despite her battered state after a grueling match, Lynch held her ground.